APC Primary: Violence erupts in some parts of Ondo

Violence erupted on Saturday, in some areas during the primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo state, as rival supporters of aspirants threw cautions to the winds.

Our correspondent gathered that there were violence in Akure, Idanre Okitipupa, ile Oluji /Oke Igbo and some part of Odigbo.

Violence also broke out in Okitipupa, in Ward 1 at Stella Maris College, where supporters of two aspirants contesting in the election hail from.

It was gathered that accredited party members, who had gathered to participate in the candidate selection process, fled the scene when violence erupted among the rival factions.

A source explained that accreditation and election process had not begun when the violence erupted and voters were chased away from the school while the voters scampered for safety.

One of the voters, who spoke with journalists that one of the agents of an aspirant came to the ward, snatched the validation and accreditation papers and ran away.

He said “One of the agents came here, snatched the validation and accreditation papers, and fled the venue in his car. They chased him, but could not catch him. This caused the violence.”

In Obanla area of Akure, an eyewitness said the people were waiting for arrival of the party officials when some political hoodlums invaded the ward to disperse the voters.

He said some people were injured while a former one of the party chieftains, Yinka Akosile was injured by suspected thugs who wanted to bar him from voting.

In Ile Oluji/ Oke Igbo, voters were said to wait all day, waiting for the arrival of the officials but they failed to show up for the exercise.

A member of the APC, Aremu Isaac in Oke-Igbo said no violence was recorded in the town but said voting did not take place in the town. According to him, same development happened in Ile Oluji community.

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